When the Marquis Came Into His Own 



But FuUerton and the others had forgotten the 

 dam in thinking so much of the foal, and when 

 they remembered, it was a Httle too late, since 

 they found her dead in the stall. Perhaps it was 

 that, — for she had been a great mare in her day, 

 and had won two score ribbons or more, — that 

 brought Fullerton and the Marquis closer to- 

 gether, but it is certain that Fullerton raised 

 him on a bottle and figuratively walked the floor, 

 until the Marquis was old and strong enough to 

 fight his battles alone. Therefore the Marquis 

 was much to be excused for a great many things, 

 since he had no mother, and all the advice he got 

 was from Fullerton, who was only a man after all, 

 and not even a horse as it were. 



The Marquis was a delicate colt for more than 

 a year or two, for he seemed to grow in all the 

 wrong places at once. His back was far too long, 

 though he got most of his growth in his legs, 

 which were longer and far more wobbly than any- 

 thing ever seen. But he had a nice small head 

 and muzzle, and showed his breeding there. 



When the word went around, as it does every- 

 where in the South, slow but sure, that a Torch- 

 light had been foaled, men who were riding or 

 driving past, would pull up and stop for a look 

 at the latest addition to Fullerton's thoroughbred 

 stock. But they usually shook their heads 

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